Advice on Rebel XSI ?

Enjoy

Enjoy

That's what she said....
So, I don't know too much about cameras and i'm not looking to get too deep into research. I am looking for some basic pointers as far as camera set up and operator technique. I want to take some progression shots of my tank but my white balance is horrible, and probably much more than that contributes to a bad picture. Anyone have any tips? Much appreciated.
 
If you want to buy an Xsi and use it properly you will have to get deep into camera research. If you aren't willing to learn the ins-and-outs of exposure or buy additional lenses other than the kit, you are simply wasting your money.
I might recommend a really nice point and shoot such as a G10.
 
This is not what I was looking for. i appreciate the comments, but i already own an xsi; Sorry i was not clear. I am looking for some simple pointers, not links to extensive photography techniques or computer editing. I am looking for very basic help. Like " use manual focus compared to auto focus because......" etc.....

thank you all who responded
 
Well, You are really going to need to adjust the WB in post processing...there just aren't any settings in the camera that will get you close with the lighting used in a reef tank. I really like Adobe's LightRoom, very easy to use!

A couple of pointers for taking pics of your tank:
Get a tripod!!! You don't have to spend a on of money on one, the more they cost the easier they are to adjust and are usually lighter. A cheapy tripod is better than no tripod ;)

If shooting soft corals, zoo's, or any other coral that moves a lot in the current...shut off all flow in the tank to take pictures.

IME, shooting Macro's in an aquarium, you want smaller aperture's (higher F-stop #) to get a little larger depth of field. With higher F-stop, your exposure will be longer...that's where having the flow in the tank off comes in handy...to keep everything from getting blurry with longer exposures.

You should really look into getting a prime macro lense...you will be much happier with your photo's than if you are using the stock 18-35mm f3.5-5.6. The Canon 50mm f2.8 is a fairly low cost "starter" prime macro lense. Check the used and refurb sections of photo websites (I got most of my stuff used or refurb from adorama).

Hope that helps :D
 
It's hard to help you in general because the subject is so vast. I can point you to some reading on basic that will help you understand.

First read on :
- Aperture
- Shutter speed
- depth of field

Then practice on these subject. Set you cam to manual mode then point at a subject then play with the aperture and shutter until you can take a picture well expose, then raise the shutter, see what it does, lower your aperture then see, then you tried to change the aperture but still be able to take a picture well expose then compare what is different in the setting. Then you will understand the relationship between those two or three if you include the ISO setting.

Feel free to ask any question if you have some :)
 
To explain where we are coming from, what if I told you I wanted to set up a reef tank. I don't care to learn about how a protein skimmer works or why I need one, why metal halides differ from a T5 setup because my turtle died and I'm just going to use his old basking lamp, why power heads are beneficial because the hang on the back filter from the turtle tank will move plenty of water, and don't even get me started on a sump. I don't want to have to learn anything about plumbing. All I want to know is the very basics.

While this sounds like a perfectly reasonable request to someone who hasn't done any research yet, most people on RC would roll their eyes and say research, research, research because you are way over simplifying things! DSLR photography (aka Xsi photography) is no different. You are going to have to get some research under your belt if you want to take pictures like everyone else who convinced you to buy it in the first place.
 
MSX-Jeff - Thank you very much. Exactly the type of help Im looking for. I will try some of the pointers you have given. Is there a good macro lens for $100 or so?

the_rider - Thank you for your comment, I will try to take some time for reading. But that will really help, and I will try and mess around with what you mentioned. Thanks again


To explain where we are coming from, what if I told you I wanted to set up a reef tank. I don't care to learn about how a protein skimmer works or why I need one, why metal halides differ from a T5 setup because my turtle died and I'm just going to use his old basking lamp, why power heads are beneficial because the hang on the back filter from the turtle tank will move plenty of water, and don't even get me started on a sump. I don't want to have to learn anything about plumbing. All I want to know is the very basics.

While this sounds like a perfectly reasonable request to someone who hasn't done any research yet, most people on RC would roll their eyes and say research, research, research because you are way over simplifying things! DSLR photography (aka Xsi photography) is no different. You are going to have to get some research under your belt if you want to take pictures like everyone else who convinced you to buy it in the first place.
Click to expand...

All that typing, and not a word of advice. I understand completely what you are saying, BUT first of all, taking pictures has nothing to do with keeping any sort of organism alive, I am not trying to take professional pictures, and all I am looking to do is take a mediocre picture, so when I look back at the pictures of my tank in three years I can somewhat appreciate the tank, rather than a blob of white flash with discolored corals. I am not looking to get too deep into this just looking for very very basic help.

I have to open google in another window as a read the responses just so i have a clue what you all are talking about. I use to get disposible cameras to take pics of my sps frags, so believe im not looking to take TOTM worthy pics. Once again thank you to all who responded with tips, and ideas.
 
the_rider Can you give me a brief explanation to what these all are in the camara world?

- Aperture
- Shutter speed
- depth of field
- ISO setting
Any other settings on the xsi i should be aware of?


Retarded with a camera, really sorry.
 
That's why I gave you the link. They explain what these settings are and how they interact with each other. You have to understand what you are doing, before you can do it.
 
Research Research Research ;););)
(that is advice)
You may not be trying to keep an organism alive, but you are trying to wield a very complicated piece of equipment designed to work in thousandths of a second on command. This is a manual camera much like a manual car. You can't just push the gas and go. You have to push the clutch in, then shift to first, then let off the clutch and press the gas simultaneously. If you aren't willing to even try to learn which pedal is the clutch pedal, how can anything we tell you possibly help? :rolleyes:
You could have saved a bunch of money by not buying that camera firstly. It's way overkill for what you want to do. It is complicated to the point that it's hurting you. Live and learn but now you need to learn to drive it or you'll never get out of the garage.
 
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I like your manual camera vs manual car Titusvilesurfer :)

Enjoy, I could explain it to you but it's really abstract so you have to practice it to really grasp the concept. If not, it would look really complicated. I also think that maybe a DSLR is not what would suit you for what you want to do aka point and shoot. Because with a DSLR, if you only use it like a point and shoot you will be really disappointed vs a good point and shoot. The DSLR is really an advanced tool to go beyond what a point and shoot can let you do since you can control everything. But it's not made to me a completely automatic camera.

I know that for what I do, I could do it with a point and shoot cam. but if you think a DSLR is to complicated and don't really need/want/have time to learn the in and out about it, maybe it's not for you (no disrespect intended).

I don't want to sound harsh or rude or disrespectful by any way. I just want to help you

here's some reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field
 
I appreciate the help everyone and im not taking any critisim to heart so dont worry. I originally bought the camara a year ago for my wife so we could take "nicer" pictures of the baby. Now i thought why dont i take "nicer" pics of my tank. Guess I will just stick to disposable. Dont have time for researching another hobby :(
 
Enjoy: If you are not wanting to take great pictures...just start shooting, see what works :)

You aren't going to be able to find a decent "new" prime macro for ~$100...check the used/refurb section of www.adorama.com (I would look for you, but I have to be awake AND functional in 4 hours to go to a frag swap in the morning :D )
 
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